SYG 2000 Exam 3 with complete solutions

Free Rider Problem - Answer- the notion that when more than one person is responsible for getting something done, the incentive is for each individual to shirk responsibility and hope others will pull the extra weight -caused by lack of selfish incentives of capitalism -justification for oppressive rule emanating from some central agency Income - Answer- money received by a person for work, from transfers (gifts, inheritances, or government assistance), or from returns on investments -measure of economic status -increasing inequality of rich and poor Malthus's views of inequality - Answer- Positive view like Scottish Enlightenment but different reason -inequality good/necessary to avoid massive overpopulation and starvation - "An Essay on the Principle of Population as it Affects the Future Improvement of Society" -human kind grows geometrically (exponentially) while food increases arithmetically(linearly) Meritocracy - Answer- a system in which the advancement is based on individual acheivement or ability -equal opportunity Rousseau's views of inequality - Answer- human kind is naturally prue and good -social problems developed from building society and repressing natural character (private property) -social equality -social inequality (always exists) social equality - Answer- no differences in wealth, power, prestige, or status based on nonnatural bases physical inequality - Answer- natural -consists of differences in age, health, bodily strength and all the qualities of the mind and or the soul social inequality - Answer- political -convential inequality established or authorized by the constent of men Social mobility - Answer- ability or inability to change one's position in the hierarchy Horizontal social mobility - Answer- movement within one's social class Vertical social mobility - Answer- rise (upward/ascending) or fall(downward/descending) of an individual or group from one social stratum to another Wealth - Answer- family's or individual's net worth = total assets - total debts Asset - Answer- homes, cars, other real estate, and business assets, along with financial forms of wealth such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds -American assets Debt - Answer- mortgages on homes, credit card debt, etc. -American debt Absolute poverty - Answer- measure of what people need in order to survive -constant over time, but takes inflation into consideration -based differently in different countries - US poverty lines based on income level Advantages of wealth - Answer- • It can be invested to generate income and ultimately even greater wealth • It can be used to purchase material and service comforts • High level of financial security -early retirement • Purchase freedom and autonomy - Ex; Freedom to leave unsatisfactory employment without worrying about how the bills will be paid • Benefit of the doubt from the criminal justice system - hire expensive lawyers - White-collar criminals of any class tend to be lightly sanctioned - Ex; Drawing probation instead of parole for embezzlement and fraud • Wealth can be passed on to offspring • Infuence government to enchance wealth Social Class - Answer- One's economic position in the stratification system, especially one's occupation Class - Answer- One's position in the stratification system Conflict of stratification - Answer- higher levels may be more difficult, but not more important -don't require as big rewards, especially monetary rewards Economic Inquality - Answer- a condition whereby some positions in society yield a great deal of money, status, and power while others yield little, if any, of these Feminization of poverty - Answer- those living in poverty are more likely to be women than men Factors affecting feminization of poverty - Answer- • Women are more likely than men to live • Women have lower average earnings than men do, even with the same jobs • More children are being born to unmarried women • Women have longer life spans than men Income Inequality - Answer- Rising in US since 1970 Reasons include 1. Deindustrialization 2. Technological Advances 3. Political Inequality Power - Answer- ability to get others to do what you want them to do, even if it is against their will -higher stratification, higher power - exists in many institutions Relationship between wealth and income - Answer- income=amount of money earned or returned wealth=net worth=income+assets-debts -both ontribute to social class -can be wealthy with a low income -jus Relative poverty - Answer- defined not by some objective standard but rather by the fact that some people, irrespective of income, are, or feel themselves to be, poor relative to others to whom they relate -not having as much money as others around you Social stratification - Answer- involves hierarchical differences not only in economic positions but also in other important areas, such as status, or social honor, and power Socioeconomic status - Answer- any measure that attempts to classify groups, individuals, families, or households in terms of indicators such as occupation, income, wealth and education Status - Answer- prestige attached to a person's positions within society -table from doctor to teacher Status consistency - Answer- people that people rank similarly across all three dimensions of social stratification Status inconsistency - Answer- people with their position on one dimension of stratification will be different, perhaps very different, from their positions on the other dimensions of stratification Structural/functional view of stratification - Answer- argues that all societies are, and have been, stratified and contends that societies need a system of stratification in order to exist and to function properly -ensures people are motivated to occupy less pleasant,more difficult, and more important positions in society -ensure people with the right talents and abilites find the appropriate positions in society -high level/high reward The dimensions of social stratification - Answer- 1. Economic Position 2. Status 3. Power The poverty line - Answer- set threshold in terms of income - used as a comparison for poverty in US -set using Orshanky method: multiplying cost of nutritionaly adequate food plan by three - 2014: family of four=$23,850 individual=$11,670 Wealth Inequality - Answer- greatest disparity in society, greater and linked to income inequality (micro)inteactionist theories - Answer- West and Zimmerman "Doing Gender" -gender is not a fixed iden